Woman blind for 13 years hits her head on a table while trying to kiss her guide dog and recovers her sight

Lisa Reid lived in darkness for an entire decade after a childhood medical crisis changed her life forever. At age 11, Reid developed a cancerous brain tumor that caused severe headaches, vomiting, and a loss of coordination. Although surgeons successfully removed the tumor and saved her life, the pressure inside her skull caused permanent damage. She suffered from optic atrophy, a condition where the nerves connecting the eyes to the brain fail to function correctly.

By the age of 14, her vision had faded away completely, leaving her to navigate the world with a guide dog named Amy. For years, medical professionals told her that her sight would never return. Reid struggled with the loss of her independence and the ability to see her own physical reflection. The transition was difficult for the young woman, who grew up in a northern coastal town in New Zealand.

The situation changed in November 2000 during a routine evening at home. While reaching down to give Amy a kiss goodnight, Reid accidentally lost her balance and fell. She struck her head on the floor and a coffee table at the same time. The impact could have been a minor injury, but instead, it triggered an immediate and shocking sensory transformation for the 25-year-old.

Reid describes the moment she regained her vision as a miracle rather than a frightening experience. She told reporters that the sudden return of her sight was the most beautiful thing she had ever encountered. Although her vision is not perfect, she can now see the world that remained hidden for ten years. This recovery allows her to reconnect with her surroundings in a way she thought was impossible.

Medical professionals remain divided on how such a recovery could occur after ten years of total blindness. Dr. Ross McKay, an ophthalmologist in Auckland, previously confirmed that her optic nerves suffered significant damage from the tumor. Some skeptics suggest the blindness might have been psychological rather than purely physical. However, no concrete medical explanation currently exists to explain how the physical trauma of a fall restored her visual path.

Despite the skepticism from the medical community, Reid continues to focus on her transformed life. She spent a decade believing she would never see again, and the sudden change has altered her outlook. Beyond just seeing the physical world, she feels she has reclaimed a sense of herself that was lost. The year 2001 marked a turning point as she shared her story of recovery with the public.

Source: https://abcnews.com/Primetime/story?id=132205&page=1